Why and How EVERY Big South Team CAN WIN the conference

What was deemed by Vegas to be one of the most lobsided conference to now being deemed closer by Vegas, and even closer by actual ball knowers. So I figured I will cover how everything has a chance to win this conference, and yes

I MEAN EVERY TEAM.

High Point: Living up to expectations

High Point was up to -500 at some books early into non conference play because of how good they seemed, but since then, they have suffered losses to Missouri State, UNC Greensboro and Norfolk State.

While these losses aren’t too bad on paper, they showed this team is in fact, beatable.

I still stand on my take that this might be the most talented Big South roster since the 2007 Winthrop team, and they have lived up to it at points in this season vs North Texas, UAB and Southern Illinois.

High Point’s path to wining the Big South:

• Stay healthy, it was an issue early in the year.

• Limit opposing offensive rebounds (292nd in the country)

• Use your height advantage

Longwood: Defense is the best offense

For the second straight season, Longwood has the best defense entering conference play, and currently if the season were to end today. It would be the best defense Griff Aldrich has had at seasons end.

Longwood has the 9th highest defensive turnover rate in the nation (turnovers created) at 23.3%, and that has translated to having the 12th highest Points Per 100 Possessions in transition, and being 8th in Delta Points Per 100.

Longwood’s path to winning the Big South:

• Get 3 Point Shooting back to around 32% (no Griff led team has been below 34%)

• Keep Turnover Rate above/around 20%

• Take advantage of calmer start to conference play

Radford: Love Wins

It’s hard to find one thing Radford does exceptionally well because it seems they are the most well rounded team in the conference.

So I chose to describe their path with two words that this team has rallied around, Love Wins. The statement comes from the late USF Coach Amir Abdur Rahim. It’s not just about Loving Winning, it’s a culture, and Darris Nichols has built a culture of love at Radford.

Radford’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Keep attacking the offensive boards

• Keep getting to the line

• and remember Love Wins

Winthrop: PUSH THE PACE and Walk The Line

One of the fastest teams in the country, and the fastest in the Big South. Winthrop has been storming not only up and down the court but also to the free throw line having the highest free throw rate in the nation.

While Winthrop has one of the worst free throw percentages, they get to think so much that it almost levels out, along with having one of the best free throw “defenses” in the country.

Winthrop’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Get to the free throw line

• Capitalize at the line and make 20+ Free Throw’s per game

• Push the pace, and have the place rocking

UNC Asheville: GOING HARD IN THE PAINT

UNC Asheville might not have Drew Pember anymore, but that doesn’t mean they have become a bottom dweller. They have simply retooled with Toyaz Solomon filling in for Pember’s presence down low.

Along with Solomon, Asheville added Jordan Marsh a literal sparkplug point guard who was described as one of the fastest players either Josh Banks or Mike Morrell has ever been around, who can get into the paint with relative ease and either kick it out for an assist or take it to the rim.

UNC Asheville’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Keep Solomon on the court for 30+ mins, crashing the board and ball

• Have shooters like Abee and Banks around Marsh

• Force teams to shoot outside the arc, or go up with Solomon

Presbyterian: Win with Toughness

While Presbyterian is usually known for their guards, from Flagler, to Harrison to Bennett, but this season Presbyterian has really as good of bigs as they do guards. While Johan Pierce is out for the year, Kaleb Scott has still been impressive, and Jaylen Peterson has filled in Pierces role very well.

Presbyterian is one of the toughest and strongest teams I have seen this season and the toughness in the paint from Kaleb Scott has lead to getting open shots from the midrange and 3 from Kory Mincy, Kobe Stewart and the other guards in their speical 4 guard lineup.

Presbyterian’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Continue to feed Kaleb Scott, and other shots and players will get open

• Control the pace, put the game in the mud

• Keep limiting their turnovers

Gardner Webb: Shoot, Baby Shoot

Gardner Webb is very much better than their 5-8 record shows, Gardner Webb has lost to Belmont by 9 (held the lead for most of the game), lost at the wire vs NC Central, Queens, and Georgia Southern back to back to back.

Gardner Webb has suprisingly one of the best shooting teams in the Big South led by Darryl Simmons, Anthony Selden and Jamaine Mann. Gardner Webb ranks 63rd in EFG% (2nd in the Big South), 77th in ORB% (3rd in the Big South), and 92nd in 3PT% (3rd in the Big South) but 358th in Turnover %.

Gardner Webb’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Keep the shot selection, it is and has worked

• Feed Simmons, he the best ball handler and best offensive players on this team

• Limit the turnovers

Charleston Southern: EDIG7

The teams motto is how they need to view every conference game, MUST WIN. Charleston Southern has had injuries all season with Alahn Sumler and Patrick not having played and other missing games at a time.

With all those injuries, they have shown promise vs Miami and UT Martin winning both of those games with amazing Game 7 like performances from RJ Johnson, Kelly, Camara among others.

Charleston Southern’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Treat every game like it’s win or go home, this conference will be tight.

• Trust your stars, to have a chance (if health doesn’t improve) you need Kelly and Johnson to play almost 40 mins a game.

• MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS.

USC Upstate: The Youth Movement

For a team that everyone predicted to be the doormat of the Big South, Upstate has looked very fiesty mostly due in part to freshmen Mister Dean, Carmelo Adkins and junior Brit Harris who have all looked like Power 5 talents.

Upstate was close to beating Wake Forest, held a big lead against Virginia Tech, beat Western Carolina, kept to close vs many like teams. When Brit Harris comes back in conference play, Upstate will be a very hard team to beat.

USC Upstate’s Path to Winning the Big South:

• Get Brit Harris back healthy (2-6 weeks, around 2 weeks ago)

• Push the tempo, and play tough defense

• Hit more than 24.8% of 3PT attempts